Wagering game with enhanced payline-ordering feature

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a gaming terminal and a method of playing a wagering game. The wagering game includes a plurality of symbols arranged along one or more paylines that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game in response to a wager input. A winning combination of symbols along the paylines may be arranged in either a left-to-right order or a right-to-left order. In one embodiment, a player makes a first wager input that is associated with one or more paylines corresponding to a left-to-right arrangement of symbols. A player is then allowed to make a second wager input that is associated with one or more paylines corresponding to a right-to-left arrangement of symbols. The second wager input associated with right-to-left paylines is not equal to, and may be less than, the first wager input associated with left-to-right paylines.

1 . A method of playing a wagering game at a gaming terminal, said wagering game having a plurality of reels composed of a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of said wagering game that has been selected from a plurality of outcomes, comprising: 
 receiving a first wager input that is associated with a first group of paylines that indicate said randomly selected outcome from left-to-right;    providing an option for inputting a second wager input, said second wager input associated with a second group of paylines that indicate said randomly selected outcome from right-to-left, said second wager input is not equal to said first wager input;    conducting said wagering game;    awarding an award for at least one winning combination of said plurality of symbols along said first group of paylines that indicate said randomly selected outcome from left-to-right; and    awarding an award for at least one winning combination of said plurality of symbols along said second group of paylines that indicate said randomly selected outcome from right-to-left if said option has been chosen.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first group of paylines is the same as said second group of paylines.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said second wager input associated with said second group of paylines is less than said first wager input associated with said first group of paylines.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said second wager input associated with said second group of paylines is greater than said first wager input associated with said first group of paylines.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of paylines in said first group of paylines is greater than the number of paylines in said second group of paylines.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of paylines in said first group of paylines is less than the number of paylines in said second group of paylines.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said option for inputting said second wager input is only selectable in response to a player inputting said first wager input that is equal to a maximum value for a payline within said first group of paylines.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said option is only selectable in response to said player selecting all of said paylines within said first group of paylines and said first wager input is equal to a maximum value for all paylines in said first group of paylines.  
   
   
       9 . A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game, comprising: 
 a display for displaying a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of said wagering game, said display displaying at least one payline;    a controller coupled to said display and operative to receive a first wager input and a second wager input, said first wager input allowing a player to achieve winning combinations arranged left-to-right on said payline and said second wager input allowing a player to achieve winning combinations arranged right-to-left on said payline; and    wherein said second wager input is less than said first wager input.    
   
   
       10 . The gaming terminal of  claim 9 , further comprising a player-selectable input device coupled to said controller for inputting said second wager input.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming terminal of  claim 10 , wherein said player-selectable input device for inputting said second wager input is only actuatable in response to a player inputting said first wager input that is equal to a maximum value for said payline.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming terminal of  claim 9 , wherein said winning combinations arranged right-to-left or left-to-right on said payline include at least three symbols arranged in consecutive order.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming terminal of  claim 9 , wherein one of said winning combinations includes symbols arranged in consecutive order on each reel along said payline such that said left-to-right arrangement and said right-to-left arrangement are winning combinations.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming terminal of  claim 13 , wherein a player is awarded a first award based on said left-to-right arrangement of symbols and a second award based on said right-to-left arrangement of symbols.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming terminal of  claim 13 , wherein a player is awarded a first award based on said left-to-right arrangement of symbols and a chance for a bonus award based on said right-to-left arrangement of symbols.  
   
   
       16 . A method for conducting a wagering game, comprising: 
 providing said wagering game at a gaming terminal, said wagering game capable of receiving a first wager input and a second wager input;    receiving said first wager input and said second wager input wherein said second wager input is less than said first wager input;    displaying a combination of symbols, said combination of symbols capable of being read from left-to-right and right-to-left along at least one payline; and    wherein said first wager input is associated with symbols read from left-to-right and said second wager input is associated with symbols read from right-to-left.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said second wager input can only be received if said first wager input is equal to a maximum value.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising awarding a first award based on said symbols being read from left-to-right.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising awarding a second award based on said symbols being read from right-to-left.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising awarding a first award based on said symbols being read from left-to-right and awarding a second award based on said symbols being read from right-to-left, said second award being a chance to win a bonus award.